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FLM Appreciation

Film Analysis Essay

Film Analysis Final: La La Land

Introduction

​ La La Land is a 2016 film directed by Damien Chazelle, and it is one of my favorite films

of all time. It is a film that has perfectly encapsulated the true inner and outer makings of a

modern-day classic film – something which I think is staggeringly steep shoes to fulfill. It is a

film in which you can actively feel the immense amount of heart and soul handcrafted and

poured into each frame. La La Land is a film in which its heart-wrenching original score,

breathtaking cinematography, and passionate directing all coincide with each other to concoct an

everlasting impact on its audience.

Music​

La La Land takes what it means to be a musical and fleshes it out to its highest degree. It

is a film that does not let the musical aspect define it, instead, it redefines what a modern-day

musical should be. Which I think is something easier said than done. The score of this film has

been constructed brilliantly, and it is where the heart of the film truly lies. The film does

something unique not only is the music used to convey its story, but the usage of diegetic music

further connects us to the world within La La Land and its characters.

What is so special about the usage of diegetic music throughout the film is that we are

further immersed in the same world as the characters. What we hear, they hear, and thus what

emotions they are feeling – we are feeling as well. I would say that the music is used as an
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invisible string of sorts to interconnect the barrier between telling a story and exploring the film’s

theme of hopes and dreams. Such as Mia and Sebastian’s main theme song which is used

throughout the film.

Their theme song is used as a device to further communicate to us the audience their

deepest desires, wants, and feelings. Such as Sebastian’s deep love for jazz, and Mia's ultimate

dream of becoming a successful actress. The famous ending scene that takes place at Sebastian’s

jazz club is ever-so-powerful because of the usage of their theme song. As an audience who has

gone on a journey with these two characters during the entire duration of the film – we know

exactly what that song symbolizes between the two of them, and we can internalize the emotions

they are feeling within that moment. A song so simple, with only seven notes, manages to invoke

so much intensity and emotion to its audience.

Tying into Mia and Sebastian’s theme song is another score of the film, which is the

epilogue sequence music. The epilogue sequence score summarizes the two characters’

relationship and their internal and external journeys together. It includes every song previously

used throughout both characters’ journeys and builds it up to narrate an explosive cathartic

conclusion. The epilogue sequence and Mia and Sebastian’s theme scores recap what makes the

musical aspect of this movie stand out, which is its ability to use music as a vehicle to deliver a

powerful story

Cinematography

​ La La Land’s cinematography and general mise-en-scène is one of the most memorable.

The film’s use of bright, bold, saturated colors and dreamy sequences to convey a narrative is

what puts this film in a different league of its own within modern cinema. Yes, the shots and

frames of the film are stunning – but it is not done in a shallow vain because it all builds up to
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tell a story. Which I think can be overlooked. Yes, a film may be visually stunning, but what

good is it if the narrative is not compelling? Every shot within La La Land serves a purpose and

that is to further its narrative. Such as the “Someone in the Crowd” scene with Mia when she

attends a party. The camera in the scene goes for a slow, yet swift technique which appears to be

a dolly shot to communicate to us how out of place Mia feels. It gives us an explicit implication

of the entire scene, and we are not left as an audience to wonder how she feels within that

moment.

One of the most overlooked shots takes place at the beginning of the film and the near

end. The first is a medium-shot of Mia working her barista job at Warner Brothers Studio’s café

and she is behind the counter. An actress is ordering coffee with the back of her head to the

camera – so we can only see Mia and her coworker's starstruck expressions. Later in the film,

that frame is copied and pasted however Mia is the actress in the reversal. That shot is one of the

most powerful to me because it again tells a story by displaying Mia’s progression to her dreams

throughout the film through implicit means.

​ La La Land is one of those films that utilizes the placement of its camera to enrich its

narrative. Such as the use of long takes in Mia and Sebastian’s dance number while walking back

to their cars, we and the camera, cannot take our eyes off what is blossoming between the

characters. Even simply the film’s usage of abrupt swoosh transitions between frames. La La

Land’s ability to use colors to represent the character’s emotional states is not something

innovative but done very well. In the final scene in the jazz club, Mia and Sebastian are

illuminated with blue, a prominent color used throughout the film during the distinct phases of

their relationship together. Blue as a color is known to represent intelligence, trust, loyalty, and
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confidence and it symbolizes both Mia and Sebastian’s relationship as both characters close the

chapter of their relationship together.

Direction and Editing

​ Before La La Land, I was not familiar with Damien Chazelle’s work, however his

direction is beyond applauding. Damien Chazelle brought his vision of a modern-day musical to

life and gave it a heart. He did what others deemed impossible; which was to create a

modern-day musical successfully, and with that, he proved that a musical does not have to be

one-dimensional. He gave his musical heart, and we as an audience can feel it oozing from

within every frame. What is so enjoyable about Damien Chazelle’s directing of La La Land is the

fact that he was not afraid to draw inspiration from the previous greats, to simultaneously create

something fresh and exciting to the table.

The editing of La La Land is quite good. While Damien Chazelle was not the sole editor,

he still had a huge part in the editing. Something I enjoyed and noticed within the film was the

movie’s usage of smooth long takes. Such as in the opening “Another Day of Sun” sequence in

the film, the smooth swooping transition used between cars as the characters sing and dance were

very cohesive and non-jarring. It did not take me out of the film, and I could barely notice it at

first. Another example of the great editing used in La La Land is the lingering frames of a

character’s face which highlight their emotions. Instead of just abruptly cutting in between

characters' faces as they are digesting their emotions within that moment, the camera lingers

which I think is a genuinely nice touch.

​ Continuing with the topic of the film’s editing, the title cards displayed throughout the

film surprisingly add so much depth to the overall narrative. Again, La La Land is a film where

nothing on screen goes without reason. The first title card we are introduced to reads ‘Winter’
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and funnily enough that is the only season repeated and shown in the end. Winter title card

signifies the change throughout their relationship and the time gap. The ‘Spring’ title card comes

when the two characters are just entering each other’s lives and forming a relationship. The

‘Summer’ title card represents Mia and Sebastian’s honeymoon phase – it signifies a breath of

fresh air for the character as they both are reveling in each other's company. The ‘Fall’ title card

is sadly the only title card in which it is displayed on top of a black background, and it is implied

to represent ironically enough, the fall of the two character’s relationship – which is genius

editing.

Conclusion

​ La La Land has touched the hearts of so many, and that is for a valid reason. To most,

including myself, it was a breath of fresh air during the time it came out – and it reinstated the

heart of what makes a musical magical. Original musicals as they are, rarely are ever appreciated

or produced in modern American cinema, so it was cool for a movie such as La La Land to

revive its space. La La Land is special for numerous reasons, but its ability to capture and narrate

a story with such raw vulnerability and purpose is what will always make the film enchanting.